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FederalPassed40th Parliament, 3rd Session

Bill S-3 explained in plain English

An Act to implement conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income

Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
40th Parliament, 3rd Session
Bill number
Bill S-3
Full title
An Act to implement conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income
Current status
Passed
Latest event
Royal assent received
Last updated
Dec 15, 2010

Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.

Chamber
Parliament of Canada
Current Stage
Royal assent received
Latest Activity
Dec 15, 2010
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

This Act brings into law tax conventions between Canada and Colombia, Greece, and Turkey to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion.

What It Means

This bill implements tax treaties between Canada and Colombia, Greece, and Turkey. These treaties aim to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion on income. By having these treaties in place, Canada aims to expand its tax treaty network. The treaties generally follow the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's model convention. They will only take effect after being ratified and will supersede domestic law to the extent of any inconsistency.

What This Bill Does
  • Implements tax conventions between Canada and Colombia, Greece, and Turkey.
  • Establishes that these conventions will have the force of law in Canada.
  • States that the conventions will prevail over other Canadian laws in case of inconsistency, except for the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act.
  • Allows the Minister of National Revenue to make regulations to carry out the conventions.
  • Requires the Minister of Finance to publish notices of the conventions' entry into force and termination in the Canada Gazette.
Who Is Affected
  • Individuals and companies resident in Canada, Colombia, Greece, or Turkey.
  • Businesses operating in Canada, Colombia, Greece, or Turkey.
  • The Minister of National Revenue.
  • The Minister of Finance.
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • Tax conventions define rules for taxation of income derived from cross-border activities between Canada and Colombia, Greece, and Turkey.
  • These conventions aim to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion.
  • They may provide for reduced withholding tax rates on dividends, interest, and royalties.
  • They establish rules for the taxation of business profits, capital gains, and other types of income.
Important Dates
  • Royal assent was received on December 15, 2010.
  • The conventions' entry into force dates are dependent on the completion of legal procedures in each country and are detailed within each convention.
  • The conventions generally apply to taxes withheld at source on amounts paid or credited on or after January 1 of the calendar year following the convention's entry into force, and to other taxes for taxation years beginning on or after January 1 of the calendar year following the convention's entry into force.
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • The bill implements tax treaties which can affect the amount of tax individuals and corporations pay on income earned in or derived from the respective countries.
  • Specific tax rates for dividends, interest, and royalties may be reduced under the terms of these treaties.
  • The bill itself does not impose new taxes, but rather enables the implementation of agreements that may alter existing tax liabilities.
Enforcement Or Penalties
  • The conventions establish procedures for mutual agreement between tax authorities to resolve disputes and exchange information.
  • Specific penalties for non-compliance with tax laws are governed by the domestic laws of Canada, Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, as applied under the terms of the conventions.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The effectiveness of the conventions is dependent on their ratification by the respective countries.
  • The specific application and interpretation of certain provisions may depend on future regulations or mutual agreement between competent authorities.
  • The text does not detail the specific thresholds or conditions for all tax treaty benefits, which are found within the full text of each convention.
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Canada-Colombia Tax Convention Act, 2010
enacted

This Act approves and gives the force of law in Canada to the tax convention between Canada and Colombia. It also specifies that the convention prevails over other laws in case of inconsistency, except for the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act.

Canada-Greece Tax Convention Act, 2010
enacted

This Act approves and gives the force of law in Canada to the tax convention between Canada and Greece. It also specifies that the convention prevails over other laws in case of inconsistency, except for the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act.

Canada-Turkey Tax Convention Act, 2010
enacted

This Act approves and gives the force of law in Canada to the tax convention between Canada and Turkey. It also specifies that the convention prevails over other laws in case of inconsistency, except for the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act.

Income Tax Act
affected

The tax conventions established by this Act will take precedence over the Income Tax Act in cases of inconsistency, except where the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act prevails.

Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act
affected

The provisions of the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act will prevail over the tax conventions established by this Act in cases of inconsistency.

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.

Official text
Official summary
Official summary (Parliament of Canada)

The official summary published alongside the bill, shown exactly as written.

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)

Third-party sourceView on LEGISinfo

The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary: On 23 March 2010, the Leader of the Government in the Senate introduced Bill S-3, An Act to implement conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 2010) in the Senate and it was given first reading. This enactment implements the most recent tax treaties that Canada has concluded with Colombia, Greece and Turkey. Since a tax treaty contains taxation rules that are different from the provisions of the Income Tax Act, it becomes effective only after being given precedence over domestic legislation by an Act of Parliament such as this one. The treaties implemented reflect efforts to expand Canada’s tax treaty network. Those treaties are generally patterned on the Model Double Taxation Convention prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

This is the official summary published by the Parliament of Canada, shown verbatim. Not legal advice. PoliticalData.ca did not write or edit this text.

View on LEGISinfo

Parliamentary Process

Step 1
First reading
Mar 23, 2010
Completed

Bill S-3, concerning double taxation agreements with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, began its legislative journey with first reading in the Senate on March 23, 2010, and ultimately received Royal Assent on December 15, 2010.

Introduction and first reading, Mar 23, 2010
End of stage activity, Mar 23, 2010
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Mar 23, 2010

The Senate of Canada completed the first reading of Bill S-3, an act to implement double taxation conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, scheduling its second reading for two days later.

Step 2
Second reading
Mar 31, 2010
Completed

This Senate record details the procedural progress of Bill S-3 through its second reading, committee review, and third reading, culminating in its agreement in the Senate before receiving Royal Assent.

Second reading, Mar 31, 2010
Referral to committee, Mar 31, 2010
End of stage activity, Mar 31, 2010
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Mar 25, 2010

The Senate held a sitting on March 25, 2010, which included the adjournment of the second reading debate for Bill S-3, alongside other routine proceedings, question period, and debates on financial matters.

Senator Stephen Greene moved the second reading of Bill S-3, an act to implement tax conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion, after which the debate was adjourned.

Debate at second reading - Mar 31, 2010

During the Senate's second reading debate on March 31, 2010, Senators discussed Bill S-3, an act to implement double taxation conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, before referring it to committee.

During the Senate's second reading debate on Bill S-3, senators discussed the importance of international tax treaties to prevent double taxation and facilitate trade, with the bill ultimately being referred to committee.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Apr 29, 2010
Completed

The Senate completed its committee review of Bill S-3, which aims to implement double taxation agreements with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, before the bill eventually received Royal Assent.

Committee report presented, Apr 29, 2010
End of stage activity, Apr 29, 2010
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented - Apr 29, 2010

The Senate presented the second report on Bill S-3 without amendment and scheduled it for third reading, alongside other routine proceedings and debates on various matters.

Step 4
Third reading
May 4, 2010
Completed

Bill S-3, an act to implement double taxation agreements with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, completed its third reading in the Senate on May 4, 2010, and later received Royal Assent.

Third reading, May 4, 2010
End of stage activity, May 4, 2010
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - May 4, 2010

On May 4, 2010, the Senate completed the third reading and passed Bill S-3, a bill to implement tax conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, while also debating and advancing other legislative and inquiry matters.

Step 1
First reading
May 10, 2010
Completed

Bill S-3, an act to implement double taxation conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, completed its first reading in the House of Commons on May 10, 2010, and eventually received Royal Assent on December 15, 2010.

First reading, May 10, 2010
End of stage activity, May 10, 2010
Chamber sittings
First reading - May 10, 2010

During a House of Commons sitting on May 10, 2010, members debated Bill C-389, which sought to add gender identity and gender expression to human rights legislation and criminal code provisions concerning hate crimes and sentencing.

Step 2
Second reading
May 13, 2010
Completed

The House of Commons completed the second reading of Bill S-3, an act to implement tax conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, on May 13, 2010.

Second reading and referral to committee, May 13, 2010
End of stage activity, May 13, 2010
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - May 13, 2010

On May 13, 2010, the House of Commons debated and passed the second reading of Bill S-3, the Tax Conventions Implementation Act, which deals with tax treaties with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, alongside other routine parliamentary business.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Oct 5, 2010
Completed

Bill S-3 completed its committee review stage in the House of Commons on October 5, 2010.

Committee report presented, Oct 5, 2010
End of stage activity, Oct 5, 2010
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented - Oct 5, 2010

This House of Commons sitting record from October 5, 2010, details the presentation of a committee report on Bill S-3, confirming it was studied and returned without amendment.

Step 4
Report stage
Nov 22, 2010
Completed

The House of Commons completed the Report stage for Bill S-3, an act to implement double taxation agreements with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, on November 22, 2010.

Concurrence at report stage, Nov 22, 2010
End of stage activity, Nov 22, 2010
Chamber sittings
Debate at report stage - Nov 22, 2010

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill S-3, implementing tax treaties with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, aimed at avoiding double taxation and preventing fiscal evasion.

Step 5
Third reading
Nov 22, 2010
Completed

Bill S-3, an act to implement double taxation and fiscal evasion conventions with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey, completed its Third Reading in the House of Commons on November 22, 2010, prior to receiving Royal Assent.

Third reading, Nov 22, 2010
End of stage activity, Nov 22, 2010
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Nov 22, 2010

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill S-3, implementing tax treaties with Colombia, Greece, and Turkey to avoid double taxation and fiscal evasion, amidst discussions on trade, investment, and the effectiveness of international tax agreements.

Step 1
Royal assent
Dec 15, 2010
Royal assent, Dec 15, 2010
End of stage activity, Dec 15, 2010
Chamber sittings
Royal assent - Dec 15, 2010

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debates of the Senate yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.

Vote Summary

No published recorded division

This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.

Sponsor
Marjory LeBreton
Senator | Details not listed in current Senate roster
Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament

No published representative vote breakdown

The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.

Official sources

Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.

How this data is sourced